Is FNA Adequate to Diagnose a Bone Tumor in a Dog?

OncoLink
Last Modified: September 17, 2012

Question

Fine needle aspirates obtained from a bony lesion on my dog's front leg came back negative for osteosarcoma. Can I be confident that he doesn't have bone cancer or could he have it and it's not showing up in the test. I don't want to put him through a biopsy if it's not needed?

Biopsy is usually more accurate to diagnose osteosarcoma in dogs. I would recommend that you discuss the situation with your veterinarian to find out how suspicious he or she is of osteosarcoma in your dog.